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Beatles printing plates up for auction

Auctioneer Paul Fairweather positions an image on a printers plate of John Lennon Photo: PA

Unique pieces of Beatles memorabilia will go on sale with the original printing plates for John Lennon's first book later this month.

The metal plates were used to print words and illustrations by the Beatle in the 1964 book John Lennon, In His Own Write.

Printers plates of illustrations by former Beatles musician John Lennon Credit: PA

The lot to go on sale includes 35 of the 40 printing plates used to produce the book, which was the first solo project by any of The Beatles.

Featuring a photo of John Lennon taken by Robert Freeman, the book included an introduction by Paul McCartney detailing how the band first got together in Liverpool and contained Lennon's short stories, poems and line drawings.

A printers plate showing the face of The Beatles member, John Lennon, Credit: PA

The publication became an immediate success and has been reprinted many times but first-run copies are rare.

Auctioneer Karen Fairweather said such printing plates have never come on the market before - and are unlikely to ever again.

Printing plates for John Lennon's book are displayed next to the image they create Credit: PA